North Fork Complex: September 8, 2009
Incident: North Fork Complex Wildfire
Released: 9/8/2009
Wednesday, September 8, 2009
North Fork Complex
FIRE UPDATE
Estimated Acreage: 4,453 acres
Information is also posted at: www.inciweb.org/incident/1799/ .
Location: The fires are located 15 miles southeast
of Ukiah, OR in the North Fork John Day Wilderness.
Lat: 44o55'29" Long: 118o39'5"
Cause and Date Started: Lightning, Saturday,
August 1, 2009
Current Update: Labor Day Weekend offered cooler temperatures and good humidity recovery . The two fires saw no substantial growth though they continue to put up a little smoke in the valleys. An IR flight is scheduled for tonight to get a better picture of fire spread and areas of heat. Warm and dry weather conditions are in the forecast for this coming week with temperatures reaching the upper 80s by this weekend. We expect to see increased fire behavior and smoke production as the weather warms.
Incident 136: Raspberry Creek. The fire was quiet over the weekend with little to no growth.
Incident 129: Cougar/Basin Creek. Firefighters continue "monitor and control" status on this fire. Fire activity is slowing as the fire reaches flatter ground and loses the push from the landscapes slope and topography.
Plans for Today: Continue to actively patrol the containment line, suppress spot fires and monitor fire behavior on both fires.
Long Term Suppression Strategy: Fire managers are monitoring the fires closely, watching for "trigger points" such as increased fire behavior, fire spread, and hot, dry weather conditions. Trigger points allow fire managers to adjust firefighting actions and resources accordingly. Managing wilderness fires in this manner provides for firefighter safety and reduces fire costs.
Resources on the Fire:
20-person fire crews: 2
Engines: 3
Overhead: 10
Total Personnel: 58
Management: On August 28, 2009, Mike Johnson's Type 3 organization took command of the North Fork Complex Fires.
Cooperators: US Forest Service; Oregon Department of Forestry
Restrictions and Closures: The Umatilla National Forest expanded the temporary forest closure ordered in the area surrounding the North Fork Complex fires. Maps are available at www.inciweb.org.
Fire Weather: as of Sept. 8, 2009
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 78. Southeast wind at 8 mph becoming west. Wednesday Night: low around 43.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 78. Northwest wind at 8 mph becoming southeast. Thursday Night: low around 41.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46.
